KEITH LEMON UNLEASHS HIS INNER TEMPAH AND ROCKS HIS SHADES FOR TEENAGE CANCER TRUST

Comedian Keith Lemon is asking people to make like their favourite shade-wearing celebrities and support Teenage Cancer Trust’s annual ‘Rock Your Shades’ day on Friday 6 May. Whether it’s in the style of Lady Gaga, Tinie Tempah or even Elton John, Keith wants everyone to wear their shades with attitude and donate to the cause.

Whether you’re at work, school, indoors or out, the charity is asking people to act like Jay-Z and Beyonce, by strutting your stuff and wearing your sunnies. In return, the charity is asking people to donate £1 to Teenage Cancer Trust and help young people across the UK fight cancer.

To make the event even more exciting, Teenage Cancer Trust has teamed up with TOPMAN and a group of young cancer patients who were treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit, to design four pairs of unique ‘Rock Your Shades’ sunglasses. These cool shades can be purchased from all TOPMAN stores from 16 April and will cost £15 each, with £5 of every pair sold donated to the charity.

For those wanting to get more involved, there’s a range of suggestions on the charity’s website, such as holding fancy dress sunglass wearing themed celebrity parties where you can imitate stars like Kanye West, Bono or even Dame Edna Everage! Or you can even run a ‘bling your shades’ competition at work or a sunglasses-themed bake sale.

Keith is currently hosting ITV1’s new primetime entertainment show, Sing if You Can, alongside Queen of the Jungle Stacey Solomon. Every episode will see two celebrity teams trying to deliver the best performances of hits and classics whilst taking on extraordinary challenges designed to distract them. The hosts will unleash an abundance of thrilling and comical challenges that will test the stars as never before. Each week the winning team will go through to the end game ‘The Money Spinner’, to be in with a chance of winning up to £20,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

‘Rock Your Shades’ is derived from Teenage Cancer Trust’s strong rock heritage. With help from the charity’s long-standing patron, The Who’s Roger Daltrey CBE, Teenage Cancer Trust has been staging sell-out annual gigs at the Royal Albert Hall for the past eleven years. The concerts have become a staple of the music calendar and this year saw acts such as Squeeze, Beady Eye, Biffy Clyro and Tinie Tempah taking to the stage. The proceeds of the shows and Rock Your Shades helps give teenagers the fight and attitude they need to beat cancer.

Every day six young people in the UK are told they have cancer. Usually placed on a children’s ward or with elderly patients, young people often feel extremely isolated when facing a cancer diagnosis, never meeting another young person going through the same thing. Teenage Cancer Trust believes teenagers shouldn’t stop being teenagers because they have cancer and so fund and build specialist units in NHS hospitals that allow young people to be treated together with others their own age, in an environment suited to their needs.

Teenage Cancer Trust units aren’t like ordinary cancer wards. Their home-from-home atmosphere helps create a sense of normality. The state-of-the-art units are bright and vibrant and will often include things like pool tables, jukeboxes, games consoles, computers and webcams, ensuring they can keep in touch with family friends outside hospital. Alongside all of this is a medical team of teenage cancer specialists whose knowledge creates a body of expertise that’s second to none.

To make your £1 donation and for more ‘Rock Your Shades’ fundraising ideas please visit www.teenagecancertrust.org/rockyourshades or call 020 7612 0370. To purchase the Teenage Cancer Trust Rock Your Shades sunglasses please visit one of its 165 stores or online at www.topman.com

SUPERSTAR ARTISTS AND WRITERS SUPPORT SECOND PHASE OF CHARITY AUCTION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR JAPAN

Personal items donated by global stars to aid the Japanese Red Cross’s disaster relief efforts, via charity auction at www.ebay.com/EMIfamily4Japan

Artists and songwriters including Katy Perry, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Iron Maiden, Gorillaz, Sting, David Gilmour and Tinie Tempah have donated exclusive personal items and memorabilia to the second phase of the EMI family’s charity auction to raise funds to help the Red Cross support people affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The latest round of the charity auction, which is one of the biggest in eBay’s history, kicks off today and closes on April 21. There are still four days to go until the end of the first phase of the auction, featuring items from artists and writers including Coldplay, Beastie Boys, Jane Birkin, Depeche Mode, 30 Seconds To Mars, Simple Minds, Alice In Chains, and The Chemical Brothers.

Items added to the auction today include the 1987 Ferrari 412 as featured in Daft Punk’s film ‘Electroma’, a cupcake trampoline used on stage in Katy Perry’s current California Dreams world tour, access to private concert rehearsal by Sting, a one-off diamante head used onstage by Deadmau5, a limited edition ‘Yellow Submarine’ bicycle issued to mark the re-release of The Beatles’ famous movie, three framed and signed prints of David Gilmour taken in Gdansk, and more than 30 albums individually signed by David Bowie.

Also included in the auction is the MacBook used by David Guetta to create the demos for his hit album ‘One Love’, the hand written lyrics to ‘God Only Knows’ from the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Tinie Tempah’s pink blazer from the ‘Frisky’ video, and one of the four original handmade “Zero” shirts worn by the Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan for the release and tour of ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’.

All funds raised from the charity auction will be used towards the Japanese Red Cross disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Funds will be used for the on-going provision of immediate relief to support the affected population during their recovery. EMI Group has committed to match all funds raised from the auction up to a maximum of one million euros.

The first phase of the charity auction ends on April 15th, with the second phase ending on April 21st. All the items can be viewed at ebay.com/EMIfamily4Japan.

Beastie Boys said: “Japan has always been a special and important place for us as a band. We’ve made so many friendships there in our personal and professional lives. We hope in some way that our donation can help the people of Japan rebuild after the devastating earthquakes and tsunami.”

Billy Corgan, the vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter for The Smashing Pumpkins, commented: “The people of Japan are an incredibly strong and proud people, and their love of life and culture has had a profound and positive affect on the way I view my own life. There are a million things I wish I could do right now to help soothe the pain and sorrow that so many of our fans and their families are experiencing, and my heart hurts when I think of the losses they have suffered, and are still suffering. I wanted to contribute to this auction to show my gratitude to the Japanese people and offer something that was particularly meaningful to me. I’m also proud of all the other artists who have pitched in to help, as well as my old label EMI for stepping in to organize and also match donations.”

The list of items for sale in the second phase of the charity auction from April 11th – 21st includes the following:

Anne Murray – 18 holes of golf with Anne Murray at the prestigious Angus Glen Golf Club course
Arcade Fire – four VIP tickets to their Hyde Park show on 30th June 2011
B-52s – signed guitar
Beach Boys – signed limited edition Pet Sounds plaque, plus hand-written, autographed & framed lyrics to The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” from Brian Wilson
The Beatles – the last of an extremely limited edition Schwinn bicycle featuring the ‘Yellow Submarine’ artwork
Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) – one of the four original handmade “Zero” shirts worn by Billy Corgan for the release and tour of ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’, with a letter of authenticity signed by Billy
Billy Idol – limited edition portrait print by Shepard Fairey, signed by Billy Idol and Shepard Fairey
Bret Michaels – signed cowboy hat
Chris Tomlin – handwritten and signed lyrics
Coldplay – a framed guitar signed by all members of the band and a triple platinum sales award from Canada for ‘Viva La Vida’
Corinne Bailey Rae – a personal favourite Prada dress worn by Corinne on her first album tours, along with a note from Corinne
Daft Punk – 1987 Ferrari 412, used in the Daft Punk film Electroma
David Bowie – 35 albums signed by the artist
David Crowder Band – signed Yamaha keytar
David Gilmour – three framed and signed prints of David Gilmour in Gdansk, photographed by Anna Wloch, including David, Polly and Lech Walesa, David on stage at soundcheck and a selection of David’s guitars.
David Guetta – his Apple MacBook, used to create the demos for his album ‘One Love’.
Deadmau5 – his famous diamante mau5head stage costume, autographed, plus VIP tickets to Deadmau5’s live concert in London’s Victoria Park later this year
Dean Martin – the opportunity to record a duet with Dino at the world-famous Capitol Studios
Duffy – the bicycle used by Duffy in the making of her 2009 Diet Coke commercial
Duran Duran – a painting by the band signed by Simon Le Bon
A Fine Frenzy – the outfit worn by Alison to the 2011 Grammys, plus the handwritten lyrics to a song of the winning bidder’s choice
Gorillaz – limited edition lithograph, with certificate of authenticity, signed by Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn
Helene Fischer – a dress worn by Helene on stage
Huey Lewis & The News – hand-written, autographed & framed lyrics, plus a personalized gold album award for Greatest Hits, and a VIP concert experience & personal phone call from Huey to the winner
Iron Maiden – exclusive limited edition ‘Ed Force One’ A2 print signed by Iron Maiden, two pieces of original Iron Maiden Japan 2011 event artwork signed by artist Herve Monjeaud, plus signed Nicko McBrain drumsticks as used on The Final Frontier World Tour
Jeff Bridges – signed guitar including a drawing of a symbol that is meaningful to him, “The Seed”
JLS – Aston and Ortise’s bowling shirts from the filming of ‘Stars & Strikes’, plus two signed albums
Jonas Brothers – signed record bag
Juan Luis Guerra – the hat worn on the cover of ‘La Llave De Mi Corazon’, signed by the artist
Katy Perry – a cupcake trampoline featured on stage on her current California Dreams tour
Kylie Minogue – signed ‘Kylie’ large lettering in white wood, from the ‘Fever’ album promotional campaign
Lykke Li – waistcoat worn by Lykke at the Way Out West festival last year
Marisa Monte – signed limited edition CD kit
Megadeth – a guitar signed by Dave Mustaine
Norah Jones – a signed guitar
Pat Benatar – Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo autographed B.C. Rich Eagle 1 electric guitar
Pet Shop Boys – the Rubik’s Cube jacket worn by Chris Lowe on the US leg of the Pandemonium tour in 2009
Philippe Jaroussky – signed and framed gold disc
Priscilla Ahn – a watercolor painting created by Priscilla following the Japanese earthquake, entitled ‘Falling, Tumbling, Raindrop Hearts’
The Prodigy – Signed Roland tr707 drum machine used by Liam Howlett on ‘Invaders Must Die’, along with a signed 7” limited edition of the single
Professor Green – large signed poster of the album art to ‘Alive Till I’m Dead’
Rosanne Cash – the blouse designed by Catherine Malandrino that Rosanne wore on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ in 2006, autographed copies of her “Black Cadillac” and “The List” albums, autographed copy of her memoir “Composed,” and two tickets to any concert of the winning bidder’s choice with a meet and greet backstage
Scouting For Girls – signed Brits memorabilia
Selena – framed commemorative Selena stamp, signed by the Quintanilla family and Chris Perez
Simply Red – signed and framed setlist from their last ever gig in Japan
Slash – signed Gibson Slash ‘Appetite For Destruction’ Les Paul electric guitar
Sting – attend the private rehearsal for Sting’s forthcoming exclusive fanclub-only show at the Apollo Theater in New York featuring the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as VIP tickets to the show itself on the 28th April
Tinie Tempah – his pink blazer worn in the video for ‘Frisky’
VV Brown – signed megaphone as used on stage
Willie Nelson – signed guitar

2010's most popular bands, comedians and shows. {Showbiz}

2010: The Year of the ‘man band’

viagogo reveals the most popular gigs of 2010

2010 was the year of the man band with Take That topping the charts as the most popular act of the past 12 months.

According to viagogo, Europe’s largest secondary ticket marketplace, 2010 was a year of testosterone-fuelled acts as the Kings of Leon and JLS complete the top three. There was just one woman in the top ten – Lady Gaga in fourth position.

The Libertines, in their intimate comeback gig at the HMV Kentish Town Forum, was the highest priced ticket of 2010.Tickets for Libertines reunion gig sold for well over the odds with the highest price ticket going for £223, £197 above face value.

Surprisingly, Cliff Richard’s recent 70’th anniversary gigs also pulled in the pennies with fans paying £136 – £76 over face value – to get a glimpse of the golden oldie.

Top 20 most popular acts of 2010

1. Take That

2. Kings of Leon

3. JLS

4. Lady Gaga

5. Michael Bublé

6. Roger Waters

7. Bon Jovi

8. Muse

9. Black Eyed Peas

10. Westlife

11. Usher

12. Katy Perry

13. Justin Bieber

14. Rhianna

15. Leona Lewis

16. Foo Fighters

17. Eric Clapton

18. Linkin Park

19. Tinie Tempah

20. Florence and the Machine

Top 10 most expensive gigs of 2010

1. The Libertines £223

2. Sade £144

3. Cliff Richard £136

4. Van Morrison £133

5. Eric Clapton £126

6. Elton John £125

7. Roxy Music £124

8. Michael Buble £122

9. Kylie Minogue £120

10. Barry Manilow £115

Ed Parkinson, director of viagogo UK said: “This year has been all about Take That with ticket sales breaking all records but other ‘man bands’ have benefitted from a year that’s been all about the boys including Kings of Leon and The reformed Libertines. The X Factor has also played a pivotal role in driving ticket demand for certain acts, with nine acts from the top 20 appearing live on the talent show this year.”

Top 10 most popular theatre shows of 2010

1. Glee Live!

2. Britain’s Got Talent

3. Flight of the Choncords

4. Lord of the Dance

5. Doctor Who Live

6. Love Never Dies

7. BBC Electric Proms

8. Strictly Come Dancing

9. Diversity

10. Les Miserbales

As for theatre, it’s TV that is driving us from our sofas to the stalls, with two

thirds (60 per cent) of shows in the top 10 most in demand theatre productions being based on the small screen

Top 10 most popular comedians of 2010

1. Michael McIntyre

2. Frankie Boyle

3. Peter Kay

4. Lee Evans

5. Ricky Gervais

6. Billy Connelly

7. John Bishop

8. Jimmy Carr

9. Dara O’Brien

10. Tim Minchin

TV dominates the most in demand comedians list as well with newly appointed Britain’s Got Talent judge Michael McIntyre topping the funnymen league, whilst Apprentice You’re Fired host Dara O’ Brien clinches ninth place. Panel show guests Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr are also cashing in on their TV fame, taking 2nd and 8th place in the most in demand comedians’ list.

Who was your favourite entertainers of 2010? Let us know.